Indian team gave target of 235 runs to Zimbabwe, Abhishek Sharma hit century, Gaikwad-Rinku made a splash

Harare, 07 July (HS). The Indian team has created a stir in the second T20 match of the five-match T20 series being played against Zimbabwe.

In the match being played at Harare Sports Club ground, India won the toss and decided to bat first. The team scored 234 runs for 2 wickets in 20 overs thanks to the stormy century of opener Abhishek Sharma, explosive innings of Rituraj Gaikwad and Rinku Singh. Zimbabwe has got a target of 235 runs to win this match. Zimbabwe is leading the series 1-0 with a win in the first match.

The score of 234 runs made by the Indian team is the highest score made by any team against Zimbabwe in T20 on this ground. Earlier in 2018, Australia had made 229 for 2 wickets in Harare.

The Indian team, who came to bat first in the match, had a bad start. Captain Shubman Gill was out in the second over after scoring just two runs. After this, Rituraj Gaikwad, who came to bat, handled the innings along with opener Abhishek Sharma and took the team's score beyond 70 in 10 overs. Abhishek Sharma, batting brilliantly, has completed the first half-century of his T20 international career in 33 balls.

Abhishek Sharma hit a century

After the half-century, Abhishek Sharma batted explosively. He thrashed the Zimbabwean bowlers by hitting fours and sixes one after the other. Abhishek hit three consecutive sixes and scored a century in his second T20 International. He completed his century in 46 balls. However, Abhishek was caught out on the very next ball. During this brilliant century innings, he hit seven fours and eight sixes.

Rinku and Gaikwad created a stir

Rinku Singh, who came to bat at number four, also did not let the pace of runs slow down and scored runs quickly along with Gaikwad. Meanwhile, Gaikwad has hit the fourth fifty of his T20 international career in 38 balls. Both the batsmen hit fours and sixes in the last overs to take the team's score to 234 runs in 20 overs. Rituraj Gaikwad remained unbeaten after scoring 77 runs in 47 balls with the help of 11 fours and a six and Rinku Singh remained unbeaten after scoring 48 runs in 22 balls with the help of 2 fours and 5 sixes.

Blessing Muzarabani and Wellington Masakadza took one wicket each for Zimbabwe.